And habvey d



(N0 Model.)

D. M.- MEFFORD.

PROJEOTILE.

No. 298,996. ented May 20, 1884.

Nrrn

'DAVID M. MEFFORD, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNEASSIGNMENTS, OF PART TO ARMOR J. FAIR, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, AND HARVEYD. \VINSOR, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

FROJECTILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part, of Letters-Patent 110,298,996, dated May 20,1884. Application filed October 19, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, DAVID M. Mnrronn, acitizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucasand State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inProjectiles, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings. I

My invention relates to projectiles specially 1c intended to be chargedwith dynamite or other high explosive.

The object of my invention is to producea projectile which will beself-centering in the gun when fired; also, to dispense with all devicesto give a rotary motion to an elongated projectile. My proj ectile isspeciallyintended for use with my system of pneumatic ordnance.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, partly broken away,of my improved 2o projectile. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the conicalbase. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the tube which forms the chamber for theexplosive. Fig. 4 represents the cap or cover which closes the end ofthe chamber.

ile. This piece is preferably of wood, but in instances may be made ofsheet metal, closed at the ends, and, if necessary, filled with sawdustor other light material.- It is important 0 that the specific gravity ofthis base-piece shall be small. It is to form about one-half of thelength of the projectile, and, excepting the short cylindrical portionwhich enters the tube which contains the charge, is preferably the 3 5frustum of a cone. The sides may in some instances be a little concaveor convex from a toe; but by repeated experiment I have reached bestresults with the frustum of a true cone. The diameter of this frustum ispreferably about twice as great at a as at a.

The tube or shell B, which contains the charge of dynamite or other highexplosive, is a true cylinder, of metal, and of such thickness as togive the necessary weight to the 4 5 front end of the projectile. Thistube may be slightly reduced in diameter at the end which enters the capor cover 0; or the cover may be made to close into the tube, and held bya flange from entering too far.

25 A represents the base-piece of the project- The cap 0 is merely acover of cast or sheet metal. It may be of lead or similar metal, whichwill give weight to the point of the proj ectile, and is not intended tobe very thick, as it is desirable to bring the dynamite charge intoclose proximity to the object sought to be destroyed by its explosion. Afulminate-cap may be placed in the-center of the cap or cup, as at 0,-but usually the charge of dynamite will be exploded by the shock when itstrikes an object, and no fulminate is needed. Of course the cap 0 maybe permanent with tube 13.

The projectile should not be loaded until about to be used. Then, if afulminate-cap is used, the cap or pellet is placed loosely in cover 0,and the tube Bis placed in the cover, the cover end being downward. TubeB is then filled with dynamite or similar explosive from the open end.This holds the fulminate cap in place with sufficient force andexactness. The base-piece A is then joined to the tube B by passing thecylindrical portion a a into the tube above the dynamite. The projectileis now loaded and ready for firing.

The proj ectile is specially intended for use with a pneumatic cannon ofthe general character shown in my Patent No. 27 9,965, of June 26, 1883.The proj ectile is loaded into the gun from the breech, and lies in thebottom of the bore until the piece is discharged. I have found that witha projectile of this eonstruction no device is necessary to center thefront end of the projectile in the chamber of the gun, for although thebore of the gun is equal to the greatest diameter of the base-piece A,and said piece has no appreciable length of bearing-surface to fit thebore, save only what may be called the circumferential, line at a, yetby reason of the pressure of the air on the fiat base when the valve isopened, or for some other reason, the projectile is perfectly cen- 9otered, as is evidenced by the perfect regularity and evenness of itsflight, demonstrated by actual use on a-scale of considerabledimensions.

WVhat I claim is-- 1. The projectile described, consisting of thecylindrical front portion and the frustoconical rear portion, having aclosed or solid I base, the whole being free from all projections forcentering or rifling purposes, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the cylindrical tubular portion B, of thefrnstuin A, having 5 a cylindrical portion, a a adapted to enter andclose the rear of said tube, the whole constitnting a projectile freefrom projections, substantially as described.

8. The combination of the hollow cylinder 10 B, the frustuln A, adaptedto enter and close the rear of said tube, and the cap C, forming a coverto said tube, the whole constituting a projectile free from externalprojections for centering or riflin'g purposes, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

B. F. MoRsnLL, XV. A. BARTLETT.

